In 2009, Liam Neeson’s career revived thanks to the success of TakenAn action film released almost a year earlier in France. Neeson portrayed Bryan Mills, a former CIA agent whose “particular skill set” was useful when his 17 -year -old daughter was kidnapped by traffickers of people in Europe. Taken It was such a massive success that transformed Neeson into an action star, which led to Taken 2 In 2012. And in 2015, Taken 3 He closed the trilogy and ended the saga.
The problem is that there was no saga, and the story of Taken He had already finished after the first movie. Taken 2 He turned a reason to visit Bryan and his family again because they were attacked in revenge for their actions in the original film. Instead, Taken 3 He had no pending issues to complete. There was simply to take advantage of the two films before, and Neeson pocketed $ 20 million to repeat his role for the third time. And can you blame it? If someone deserved a great check for these films, it was Neeson.
Taken 3 He made his American debut ten years ago this month, and it is true that he is not the classic that was the first film. Olivier Megaton directed the second and third film taken after the original director, Pierre Morel, did not return to the aftermath. Although few would argue that Taken 2 either 3 They are as good as the first film, they are not exempt from charms. In fact, Taken 3 will soon be available in Hulu As of February 1, so it can be a resurgence. Meanwhile, for the tenth anniversary of Taken 3We are taking a last look at whether the film has remained in the last decade.
Everyone loves Bryan
The great reason why there are two sequels taken and a seemingly endless parade of Liam Neeson’s action movies Is it that spectators really liked their character, Bryan Mills? In the first film, Bryan was largely separated from his ex -wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), and his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). But he has the opportunity to save his relationship with both rescuing Kim from a destination worse than death. Taken It even has an end to Bryan. He does not recover his wife, but strengthens his link with Kim.
Taken 3 It offers a brief look at Bryan’s ordinary life that joins while he and Lenore flirt with reviving their relationship as their second marriage falls apart. He is a character with a lot of good will of the audience, and that is why there was so much will to follow his story for the last time. Even the obvious editions to hide Neeson’s physical limitations did not damage that affection. However, the action is notably missing compared to the first film. This sequel would not work at all if it were not for the presence and charism of Neeson.
Death due to the plot
With luck, Janssen was also well paid for the third time as Lenore, since his character is written early in the film. Just when Lenore and Bryan seem to be in love again, he ends up murdered with his body thrown in Bryan’s apartment to frame him. Janssen deserved a better shipment than that, but there would be not much history without the death of his character. If Bryan’s freedom was not compromised, and there was no one to take revenge, then this would have been a very different movie.
Forest Whitaker makes his best impression by Tommy Lee Jones
One of the greatest disadvantages of Taken 3 It is almost impossible for the film to give Bryan a worthy adversary. From one of the main villains, the Russian gangster Oleg Malankov (Sam Spruelll), hardly registered, the film presents Forest Whitaker as Inspector Frank Dotzler, the man who chases Bryan after he is framed by murder. Was intended to create a dynamic similar to between Harrison Ford And the characters of Tommy Lee Jones in the wanted.
For the credit of this movie, Dotzler is not an idiot. He collects the clues that Bryan is innocent. Unfortunately, Taken 3 He never successfully converts Dotzler into a character as convincing as Bryan, and is a last -moment idea in the conclusion of the story. Whitaker does the best possible job that anyone could have done in those circumstances, but his character is signed and largely superfluous in the great scheme of things.
A possible hostage
Maggie Grace had an ungrateful task in Taken, As his character spent most of the movie outside the screen as a kidnapping victim. Taken 2 He gave Kim a redemption measure while she helped her father free himself when he kept captive. Unfortunately, Taken 3 Return to Kim’s well a hostage once again during the closing sequence. Some deviation scenes have Kim evading Dotzler’s surveillance and helping his father’s answers. But ultimately, Kim exists to be rescued by his father. Again.
It would have been a mistake if the film tried to reinvent Kim as a rude, like 24 Season 3 tried to do with its Kim, but that does not hide the fact that Taken‘S Kim is more a plot device than a character. That is why it is difficult to worry about his destiny apart from his connection with Bryan.
Comadreja reduction
Xander Berkeley played Lenore’s second husband, Stuart St. John, in the first TakenBut he did not return for Taken 3. Instead, Mission: Impossible 2Dambray Scott assumed Stuart’s role. And unfortunately, few could achieve Stuart’s character as a comadreja better than Berkeley. Scott is a good actor, but he is not as convincing as Stuart, especially once the total scope of his participation with Lenore’s death is revealed.
This film has the same problem with Stuart he did with Bryan’s other adversaries: there is simply no other character in Taken 3 who can defend himself convincing against Bryan. We care more about Bryan to escape his circumstances than for any of his possible antagonists.
There are certainly very worse action movies that Taken 3And it is still better than many of the other Neeson films in the genre. If you really loved the first TakenThen sitting through the two sequelae should not be a problem. But in its own terms, Taken 3 It is largely forgettable. It is probably better to watch the original movie again.
Rent or buy Taken 3 in Main video.
